Business Pulse

Stanford, California -- One day soon, the instant replay you see during a National Football League game might come from a camera embedded in a player’s jersey. Buying tickets for next week's game could be done with just a text message.

Those were among the concepts pitched Saturday at "NFL 1st & Future," an startup competition sponsored by TechCrunch and hosted by the Stanford University Graduate School of Business timed for Super Bowl 50 between the Denver Broncos and Carolina Panthers.

“We know this is the heart of innovation and technology … and that was a very important part of our decision” to hold the event, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said at the start of the event.

Startups were grouped into three sports-related categories – “Bringing Home the Game,” dealing with ways to improve the home viewer’s experience; “Tomorrow’s Athlete,” focused on tech to improve athlete training and safety; and “The Future Stadium,” centered on the stadium experience.

Winners were judged by separate panels including VCs, executives, ex-athletes and others ranging from 49ers CEO Jed York to former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, a member of the school’s faculty (and an alumna of the University of Denver). Prizes? A cool $50,000 and tickets to Sunday’s game.